For just over 155 years, the Glasgow Archaeological Society has been fostering public awareness of the importance of archaeology in increasing our understanding of the past through its programme of lectures, field visits and other Lectures. During the winter months the society organizes a series of monthly lectures by speakers from Britain and abroad. These illustrated lectures cover both local topics and those from farther afield, within a wide time span from the prehistoric to the post medieval period.
The society co-hosts with the University of Glasgow the Dalrymple Lectures, when a distinguished speaker is able to cover a topic in more depth in a series of four evening lectures. Previous lecturers have included:
Professor Emmanuel Anati on “Prehistoric rock Art”
Professor Rosemary Cramp on “Northern Aspects of British Archaeology”
Professor Vassos Karageorghis on “Prehistoric Cypriot Archaeology”
Sir Barry Cunliffe on “Continent cut off by fog: Just how insular is Britain?”
Professor Martin Millet on “Towards an archaeology of the Roman Empire”
Professor Ian Hodder on “Thing Theory: Towards an integrated archaeological perspective”
Professor Richard Hodges on “Archaeology and the making of the Middle Ages”
Professor David Breeze on “The frontiers of the Roman Empire”
Professor Roberta Gilchrist on “Medieval Lives: Archaeology and the Life Course”
Lectures usually take place in the Glasgow University’s Boyd Orr Building, in University Avenue on the third Thursday of each month from October to April inclusive, starting at 7.30pm.
The Society also organizes a number of excursions: during the winter months there are generally two local excursions, whilst in the summer there are two or three visits to more distant places of archaeological and historical interest. Some of our visits are to excavations in progress, or places which have been featured in one of our Society lectures.
The annual publication, the Scottish Archaeological Journal, helps to keep our national and international membership in touch with the latest results of archaeological fieldwork, excavation and research in many parts of Scotland, whilst the two issues a year of 'A Touch of GAS' cover news items, progress reports and shorter articles. The Journal is produced annually and includes book reviews, review articles, etc.
Through its field research grants the society helps to support current archaeological work by both professionals and amateurs throughout Scotland.
150th Anniversary 2006-2007 Season
We celebrated our 150th year, with several main events.
The first was a Civic Reception held in Glasgow City Chambers. We also re-opened an excavation in Pollok Park.
In December 2007 we jointly published with Glasgow Museums: 'Archaeology Around Glasgow' a guide to 50 sites around Glasgow.